Georgia motorists are required to carry a minimum of $25,000.00 of automobile insurance coverage.  It is a violation of Georgia law to drive uninsured. O.C.G.A 40-6-10.   While Georgia motorists are required to carry minimum automobile insurance coverage, it remains optional to motorists on whether or not they will purchase additional coverage on their automobile insurance policy.  Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage are additional insurance coverages that both contemplate paying for medical expenses or property for an injured party in place of the at-fault party.  However, there is a subtle, but important distinction between uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

As referenced above, the insurance company for the at fault party in a motor vehicle accident has the responsibility  to compensate an injured party.  Uninsured motorist coverage is available to cover bodily injury or property damage for an injured party when the at fault party does not have automobile insurance.  Additionally, in cases of hit and run, uninsured motorist coverage stands in the place of the offending driver.  The amount of uninsured motorist coverage available to cover injuries is contracted in the beneficiary automobile insurance policy and usually is limited to the same policy amount that exists on the injured driver's underlying automobile insurance policy. For instance, if an injured driver has a policy limit of $25,000.00 on their own underlying automobile insurance policy, the amount that the policy will provide for uninsured (or underinsured) coverage is also $25,000.00.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Underinsured motorist coverage is different from uninsured motorist coverage in that the offending motorist in an accident has automobile insurance, however, the limits of that automobile insurance coverage available is not sufficient enough to cover the medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages suffered by the innocent and injured party.  In this scenario, the underinsured motorist coverage can supplement the coverage available from the at fault motorist to cover the injured medical and other expenses.

Lawson Law Firm is a personal injury trial law firm in Lawrenceville, Georgia.  We are car accident lawyers who pride ourselves in our hard work and dedication to our clients.  If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Georgia, do not hesitate to give us a call and we will fight for you.